For nearly 50 years, the third Thursday of November has been designated the Great American Smokeout to empower people to quit smoking, and now vaping. The sponsors of the Great American Smokeout, the American Cancer Society, provide a variety of resources to help facilitate smoking cessation: guides, videos and smart phone apps. What the American Cancer Society does not communicate, however, is the most important reason for any animal lover to stop smoking… your pet.

Secondhand Smoke and Pets

Normal pet behavior increases their risk of exposure to secondhand smoke. Particulate matter from smoke settles on the floor, and this is where your pet spends a lot of time – laying on their bed, rugs and cool tile floors. Pets also like sitting on your lap. If you smoke while they are in your lap or next to you on the sofa, their fur soaks up smoke residue like a sponge. When they groom themselves, they ingest the residue. Veterinarians know this because we can detect nicotine metabolites in the hair and urine of pets residing in a household with smokers. If a pregnant dog is exposed to secondhand smoke, her puppies also have elevated levels of nicotine metabolites in their hair and uterine fluid when they are born.

Smoking Causes Cancer in Pets Too

Cancer runs in some human families, and the same is true for dogs. Scottish terriers and West Highland white terriers have an especially high risk of developing bladder cancer. Scotties, in particular, have a 20 times greater risk of developing bladder cancer than other dog breeds. While this implicates genetics, a recent study shows environment also plays a role in this deadly cancer. The environmental risk factor identified is secondhand smoke exposure. One hundred and twenty Scottish terriers were studied over three years. During that time about one-third of them developed bladder cancer. Those developing bladder cancer had higher levels of nicotine metabolites in their urine, indicating exposure to secondhand smoke exacerbated the breed’s genetic risk for bladder cancer.

Secondhand Smoke Effects Cats Too

Two common feline tumors have been linked to secondhand smoke exposure: oral squamous cell carcinoma and lymphoma. Oral squamous cell carcinoma is the most frequently diagnosed tumor of the feline mouth. Veterinary oncologists do not have good treatments for this disease and cat owners should do everything possible to decrease their cat’s risk for this fatal disease. Lymphoma, a cancer of the immune system, is the number one cancer diagnosed in cats. It too has been associated with secondhand smoke.

If you or a loved one have struggled to quit smoking during previous Great American Smokeouts, we hope this new information on the health risks to your pet give you or your loved one the inspiration to quit for good.